Mets coach Hudgens wants aggressive hitters
Mookie Wilson has taken on a new role with the Mets. (File photo, 2000) Credit: Newsday/Audrey C. Tiernan
New Mets hitting coach Dave Hudgens readily acknowledges the importance of on-base percentage. But he insists he won't go over the top with any soliloquies to players about the beauty of walks.
During a conference call with reporters Monday to introduce the Mets' coaching staff, Hudgens described his philosophy by saying he wants to instill an aggressive mind-set.
"We don't want these guys being unaggressive looking for walks," he said.
Hudgens comes to the Mets with ties to Billy Beane's Oakland Athletics, a team that has a reputation for preaching plate discipline to the max. And Beane's mentor, of course, was Mets general manager Sandy Alderson.
Which is why it's not surprising to hear Hudgens say, "The main thing is to win games, you need to get on base."
Joining Hudgens on Terry Collins' coaching staff will be Ken Oberkfell (bench coach), Mookie Wilson (first-base coach) and Jon Debus (bullpen coach) along with holdovers Dan Warthen (pitching coach) and Chip Hale (third-base coach).
Wilson, one of the stars of the 1986 Mets, returns to a position he held from 1997-2002. He spent last year as the Mets' minor-league outfield and baserunning coordinator after four years away from the organization. He is vacationing this week and was unavailable for comment.
Collins chose Oberkfell as his bench coach because he thought Oberkfell's laid-back nature could complement his own fiery demeanor. They also developed a strong working relationship last season when Collins was the Mets' minor-league field coordinator and Oberkfell was their Triple-A manager.
Oberkfell described Collins' minor-league spring training camp last year as "no-nonsense" and expects the same this year. "I know no one is going to outwork Terry,'' he said, "and no one is going to outwork his staff."
Notes & quotes: Alderson said during an interview on WFAN that Luis Castillo and Oliver Perez will be playing for their roster spots during spring training. "If those players don't earn their way on the team,'' Alderson said, "they won't be on the team."
